HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 10 JULY 2023
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
The peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) said a peacekeeper from Rwanda was killed this morning when a patrol of his contingent was attacked by members of an unidentified armed group.
When they were attacked, the peacekeepers were providing a protective presence around the town of Sam-Ouandja, in the Haute Kotto prefecture. They returned fire, according to initial reports, three assailants were killed.
The Head of the peacekeeping mission, Valentine Rugwabiza, strongly condemned the attack. The UN extends the deepest condolences to the family of the fallen peacekeeper, his colleagues and the people and Government of Rwanda.
Today’s incident follows the rapid deployment of peacekeepers to Sam-Ouandja last week in response to an attack on the town by an armed group, which fled after the peacekeepers’ intervention. Over the past five days, the Mission has expanded the security perimeter around the town to protect the community and support the safe delivery of humanitarian aid.
The Special Representative has confirmed that the peacekeepers will remain in place in Sam-Ouandja. The Mission is engaging with national authorities for the deployment of national defence and security forces to consolidate State authority in the area.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
The peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) says that the Force Intervention Brigade wrapped up a month-long operation which was conducted jointly with the Congolese armed forces in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, to deter threats against civilians and to prevent further expansion of armed groups, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The operation began in early June and has covered key areas in both provinces.
The Mission reports that peacekeepers will continue to conduct follow-up patrols, which have helped civilians to move freely and deny movement to armed groups in those areas.
SYRIA
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that aid deliveries to north-west Syria continued.
Today, 79 trucks moved through the Bab Al-Hawa crossing. They were carrying humanitarian supplies from the World Food Programme and the International Organization for Migration. Another 19 trucks loaded with aid went through the Bab Al-Salam crossing.
Since the February 6th earthquakes, more than 3,700 trucks carrying aid from seven UN agencies have crossed into north-west Syria through the three available border crossings.
As of today, the UN has also completed more than 150 cross-border missions to the north-west, since the first inter-agency visit to Idleb on 14 February.
Security Council authorization for cross-border operations under Resolution 2672 expires today.
The Secretary-General has called for a 12-month renewal of that authorization. The UN continues to advocate for expanding all avenues to deliver humanitarian assistance to millions of people in need in north-west Syria.
UKRAINE
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that yesterday, civilians in Ukraine were killed and injured while receiving humanitarian aid in yet another attack on the front-line town of Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region, in the south-east of the country.
As confirmed by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, four civilians were killed in the attack. Efforts continue to verify reports of further civilian casualties.
The attack destroyed a drinking water distribution point installed and maintained by a partner of the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund, which is administered by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine Denise Brown strongly condemned the attack, reminding that civilians, civilian infrastructure and humanitarian assets must be protected under International Humanitarian Law.
Residents in Orikhiv have been living under constant shelling for months. Families have been forced to take cover in basements, emerging only briefly to receive essential humanitarian assistance.
Meanwhile, humanitarians continue to deliver vital aid to those who need it most, including in front-line communities.
On Friday, an inter-agency convoy brought medicines, shelter materials and hygiene kits to Lyman town in the Donetska oblast in the east of the country, which has been exposed to continuous shelling. It was the 23rd inter-agency convoy to date this year to reach the Donetsk region, where humanitarian needs remain high due to the ongoing hostilities.
SUDAN/GRIFFITHS
Today, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, is in Addis Ababa, where he was invited by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in Eastern Africa – or IGAD – to take part in its Quartet Heads of State and Government meeting on Sudan.
They discussed how to address challenges in providing humanitarian aid to people in need, both inside Sudan and in neighbouring countries hosting those fleeing the fighting.
Mr. Griffiths stressed the need for expanded access and the lifting of bureaucratic impediments to allow more aid to reach people who need it.
On the ground, the UN and partners continue the efforts to reach Sudanese communities with life-saving assistance, and the World Health Organization announced that a chartered flight carrying 18 tons of medicines and medical supplies has arrived in Port Sudan.
The shipment also includes trauma and emergency surgery supplies.
SUDAN
On Saturday, the Secretary-General condemned the attack in Omdurman, Sudan, and offered his condolences to the families of the victims of that attack. He is also appalled by reports of large-scale violence and casualties across Darfur. The statement noted "an utter disregard for humanitarian and human rights law that is dangerous and disturbing.”
The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned that the ongoing war between the armed forces has pushed Sudan to the brink of a full-scale civil war, potentially destabilising the entire region.
He reiterates his call for the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to cease fighting and commit to a durable cessation of hostilities. He also urges these parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law to protect civilians and to enable humanitarian action.
YEMEN
This morning the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, briefed Security Council members on the situation there. He said that, despite the expiry of the truce, the Yemenis continue to feel the benefits from the longest period of relative calm since the beginning of the conflict, and that this period of relative calm has opened the door for serious discussions with Yemeni actors on the way forward toward ending the conflict.
Assistant-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, also briefed and told Security Council members that humanitarian needs in Yemen will remain high for the foreseeable future. She called on the parties to fulfil their obligation to facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief.
She reminded the Council that halfway through this year, the Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen is funded at just 29 per cent.
YEMEN/SAFER TANKER
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, David Gressly, briefed the Security Council on the status of the FSO Safer Operation. He said that the Sana’a authorities provided authorization today for the oil transfer from the FSO Safer to the replacement vessel.
He added that the replacement vessel - Nautica - is preparing to sail from Djibouti. It will moor alongside the Safer and should begin taking on the oil by early next week. Once the transfer starts, it will take about two weeks.
He noted that since the salvage ship Ndeavor arrived at the Safer site on 30 May, and the salvage company contracted by the United Nations Development Programme, has done everything possible to stabilize the decaying Safer and prepare it for the removal of a million barrels of oil.
MIDDLE EAST
The Humanitarian Coordinator, Lynn Hastings, visited the Jenin Refugee Camp in the occupied Palestinian Territory on Saturday, joined by representatives of a number of Member States.
UN humanitarian partners have concluded an initial damage assessment following last week’s operation by Israeli forces, indicating that 460 housing units were damaged in and around the camp. Of these, 70 housing units were destroyed or otherwise rendered uninhabitable. At least 40 families remain displaced.
The camp remains largely without running water, necessitating temporary solutions such as water trucking.
Humanitarian teams, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), are also providing emergency assistance, medical supplies and mental health support.
HAITI
In Haiti, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Ulrika Richardson, strongly condemns rising violence against medical staff and facilities in and around the capital Port-au-Prince and the rest of the country.
The humanitarian community calls on all parties involved in attacks on health care to immediately cease all forms of violence against the population and humanitarian infrastructure, while also urging respect for the neutrality of healthcare facilities and their staff.
NIGERIA
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, is in Abuja, Nigeria.
Together with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and UN Messenger of Peace, Malala Yousafzai, Ms. Mohammed will spotlight the importance of girls’ access to quality education.
On the occasion of Malala Day, they will mark the tenth anniversary of Malala’s notable speech at the United Nations at an event on 12 July. They will acknowledge the progress made in education while stressing that more needs to be done in every part of the world.
They will also visit local schools and meet with Government officials.
Today in Abuja, Ms. Mohammed met with Femi Gbajabiamil, Chief of Staff of the President.
SRI LANKA
The UN Secretary-General has appointed Marc-André Franche of Canada as the new Resident Coordinator for Sri Lanka.
Mr. Franche has 24 years of experience in the United Nations and his work has focused on boosting development coordination among UN agencies, funds and programmes. He took up his post on Saturday, following confirmation by the Host Government.
HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM
The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, also known as the HLPF, started today and will go on until next Wednesday, 19 July. The three-day ministerial segment of the Forum will take place from Monday, 17 July, to Wednesday, 19 July. This year’s theme is “Accelerating the recovery from COVID-19 and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels”.
The meeting will also support the mid-term review of the SDGs and the preparations of the SDG Summit in September.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
Paraguay has paid its regular budget dues in full. The total number of fully paid-up Member States is now 122.
NOON BRIEFING GUESTS
The noon briefing guests today are Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, or DESA; Francesca Perucci, Assistant Director in the Statistics Division of DESA; and Astra Bonini, Senior Sustainable Development Officer in the Division for Sustainable Development Goals of DESA. They will brief on the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals Report, specifically on the key findings of the The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023: Special Edition. Using the latest available data and estimates, this report provides both a snapshot of SDGs’ progress, highlighting the gaps that exist and urging the world to redouble its efforts to achieve the SDGs.
